T.S. Eliot - The Naming Of Cats

The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.
First of all, there's the name that the family use daily,
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,
Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey--
All of them sensible everyday names.
There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:
Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter--
But all of them sensible everyday names.
But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular,
A name that's peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?
Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum-
Names that never belong to more than one cat.
But above and beyond there's still one name left over,
And that is the name that you never will guess;
The name that no human research can discover--
But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.
When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.

Aww, sweet! mazpics · 2012-01-07: 07:58

To see to cats before they fight are a special thing....They are so strategic and you never know when the first move comes. Great post EvaLizette · 2012-01-07: 09:51

Hahahhah....what a beautiful spectacle you've captured! I often wonder what they are saying to one another while having their "stare-off"! His ineffable effable Effanineffable what beautiful words to let slip through one's tongue.....:-)) KatysPassionata · 2012-01-07: 09:57

La photo est très belle . Mais je ne sais pas ce que cela donnerait si le titre etait"Alonzo et Augustus jouent dans le jardin ? Peut etre que dans ce cas il preferent vraiment leur nom secret. nicephore34 · 2012-01-07: 12:17

Le nom secret jamais révélé mais reflétant sa personnalité !!! Ce troisième nom est le nom magique Bien vu Antonio josy63 · 2012-01-07: 14:52

:-) qui est sorti vainqueur de la partie? Je te griffe, tu me griffes, un peu comme deux amoureux:-) tikine3gogours · 2012-01-07: 16:51

Love this post!! Great capture and edit.. the music fits very well and the poem... perfect :-) nynkeb · 2012-01-08: 04:54

loving it! :) piti07 · 2012-01-08: 05:46

It remembers me the film The way of the dragon with Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris in the colosseum of Rome. Very nice unreal · 2012-01-08: 07:47

Ohh! Your capture gives me very warm feelings. It reminds me of my childhood when I used to have cats. I find quite interesting the lines about naming them as well. I know it matters a lot what name you give to a human but I haven't had any idea about cats... Very nice post! angela20620 · 2012-01-08: 10:20